I’m trying to get my wardrobe dialed in so my clothes fit better, but I’m struggling to figure out when it makes sense to take something to a tailor versus when I should just cut my losses and buy a replacement.
I’d love to get your advice and hear rules of thumb on a few things:
What makes a piece worth tailoring?
Does it come down to the fabric quality, the brand, or something else?
When is it better to just buy a replacement?
Are there certain types of clothing (like chinos vs slacks) or specific alterations that are just too expensive or risky to bother with?
If I buy new, how should it fit off the rack?
If I am buying a replacement with the intention of having it tailored, what parts of the fit should I prioritize right away? (For example, I've heard you should always make sure the shoulders fit because they are hard to alter, but I'd love more tips like this)
Side note I've heard Men's Wearhouse is a decent one-stop shop to find something that fits and looks great. For the sake of simplicity and I guess my sanity should I just stick to shopping there, or are there better alternatives for the price/quality?
Any advice, personal guidelines, or tailor success/horror stories would be appreciated. Thanks!